Five killed, 20 injured in New Year day bombings in Assam (Lead)

Guwahati, Jan 1 (IANS) Five people were killed and at least 20 wounded, six of them critically, when serial explosions rocked busy market places and other areas in Assam’s main city of Guwahati on New Year’s day Thursday.A police spokesman said two of the blasts took place in crowded markets, while another took place in a roadside dustbin.

“Five people have died so far and 20 have been injured according to preliminary reports,” a senior Assam police official said.

The first blast took at Birubari area in a garbage bin, injuring two people. The blast took place around 4.30 p.m.

Two other near simultaneous blasts occurred at the Bhootnath and Bhangagarh markets in the city.

“The nature of the explosives is not immediately known although it appears to be some improvised explosive device,” the police official said. He said in two of the instances, bombs were planted on parked bicycles.

“We suspect it to be the handiwork of the ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom),” Deputy Inspector General of Assam police G.P. Singh said.